RAMALLAH, December 6, 2016 (WAFA) – The bill that was passed in the Israeli parliament in an initial reading was the highlight of the Palestinian Arabic dailies on Tuesday, which said the bill means an end to the two-state solution.
With a long headline printed with a red background that went across the front page, al-Quds daily summarized the bill and said it allows expropriation of Palestinian land for settlement purposes and gives legal status to thousands of housing units in settlement outposts across the West Bank.
However, the kicker to this headline was only three words in Arabic: “The two-state solution is over.”
Al-Ayyam said in the headline of its front page story on this issue that the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has legalized 4000 housing units and confiscation of thousands of dunums of land in the occupied territories.
It also said that residents of Silwad, near Ramallah, have objected to Israeli takeover of town land to build new housing for the settlers from the controversial Amona settlement as an alternative residence.
The main front page headline in al-Hayat al-Jadida continued to focus on the outcome of the Fatah conference but this time reported on the first meeting for the new Central Committee quoting President Mahmoud Abbas in his capacity as Fatah chairman telling the meeting that “We start from this important step toward the future and building the independent state.”
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam also reported on the Fatah Central Committee meeting, which was more of a protocol first meeting to welcome the new members and set the agenda for future meetings.
There was no mention in any of the papers if the Central Committee has named the deputy to the chairman or any other top post, which may be left to the next Central Committee meeting.
Al-Quds said Israeli police has extended by one hour the morning period Jews and non-Muslim visitors can tour al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City.
It quoted Muslim officials warning from the consequences of this unilateral decision, saying that Israel is trying to change the status quo in the mosque and create instability.
The same paper said the Israeli army has destroyed dozens of dunums of agricultural land in the northern Jordan Valley.
Al-Ayyam quoted whom it described as “informed sources” as saying that France is getting ready to send invitations to countries, including the United States, to attend a special peace conference on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that is expected to convene in Paris most likely on December 21.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said the two hunger striking prisoners are facing unprecedented harassment at Assaf HaRofeh hospital in Israel, where they are getting treatment after more than 70 days of fast.
M.K.
